Gary Woodland Bio
Gary Lynn Woodland is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour. He is best known for winning the 2019 U.S. Open, his first major championship, and for his successful return to competition after brain surgery. He has recorded multiple PGA Tour titles, briefly played on the Nationwide Tour early in his career, and represented the United States in international team competition.
Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall, Woodland turned professional in 2007 after a standout amateur career. He has combined powerful driving with steady iron play and is regarded as one of the longer hitters on tour. Off the course, he has been open about his health challenges and the support of his family.
Early Life and Background
Gary Lynn Woodland was born on May 21, 1984, in Topeka, Kansas, the son of Dan and Linda Woodland. He grew up in the Topeka area and attended Shawnee Heights High School in the nearby suburb of Tecumseh. At Shawnee Heights, Woodland was a four-year letterman in both basketball and golf, showing early versatility across two sports.
As a senior, Woodland became the first all-state basketball selection in Shawnee Heights history. He averaged 18 points per game for the season, including 26 points in the state title match. His strong senior year drew basketball scholarship interest, and he accepted an offer to play at Washburn University in Topeka.
After one season at Washburn, Woodland transferred to the University of Kansas in Lawrence on a golf scholarship. At Kansas, he won four individual collegiate tournaments and also claimed the 2005 Kansas Amateur Championship. He graduated in 2007 with a degree in sociology and turned professional the same year.
Path to Professional Golf
Woodland’s switch from basketball to golf came after he realized that his defensive limitations would hold him back at the Division I level. At the University of Kansas, he developed into one of the top amateur players in the region, building the distance and accuracy that would later define his professional profile.
His amateur résumé included titles at the 2005 Cleveland State Invitational, the 2006 Kansas Invitational, the 2007 All-American Golf Classic, and the 2007 Louisiana Classic. The 2005 Kansas Amateur win confirmed his standing in the Midwest, and his college record attracted the attention of PGA Tour coaches and agents.
After graduating, Woodland chose to pursue professional golf full-time. He began his career on the Nationwide Tour in 2007, a traditional development path for emerging American players, and set his sights on earning a PGA Tour card through qualifying school.
Gary Woodland Career
Early Career (2007–2010)
Following his college career, Woodland played in a handful of Nationwide Tour events during the 2007 and 2008 seasons. At the end of 2008, he entered the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament and finished tied for 11th, earning his full PGA Tour card for 2009. He made his PGA Tour debut that season but struggled, making just eight cuts in 18 appearances before a shoulder injury cut his year short in July.
In 2010, Woodland split time between the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour, searching for his best form. Although he did not record a top-ten finish on either tour, his consistency was enough to finish 92nd on the Nationwide Tour money list. He returned to qualifying school and again finished tied for 11th, regaining full PGA Tour status for 2011.
PGA Tour Breakthrough (2011–2018)
Woodland’s breakthrough came in 2011. After finishing tied for first at the Bob Hope Classic and losing in a playoff to Jhonattan Vegas, he captured his first PGA Tour victory at the Transitions Championship in March 2011. He won by one stroke when Webb Simpson missed a par putt on the final hole. The win secured him a spot in the 2011 Masters Tournament and lifted him to 53rd in the Official World Golf Ranking. Later that year, he partnered with Matt Kuchar to win the Omega Mission Hills World Cup, and he finished the season ranked 17th on the PGA Tour money list.
In 2015, Woodland reached the final of the WGC-Cadillac Match Play, where he lost to Rory McIlroy, and climbed to a career-best 32nd in the world at that time. In February 2018, he won the Waste Management Phoenix Open in a hole-by-hole playoff over Chez Reavie, ending a five-year victory drought and vaulting to fifth in the FedEx Cup standings. Later that summer, he held the 36-hole lead at the PGA Championship with a tournament record 130 and finished tied for sixth, six strokes behind winner Brooks Koepka.
At the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links, Woodland held the 54-hole lead and closed with a 2-under-par 69 for a 13-under total of 271, winning by three shots over Koepka. He became the fourth U.S. Open champion to finish double-digits under par, and the victory moved him from 25th to 12th in the world ranking. In December 2019, he played on the U.S. team that won the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Club.
Comeback Era (2023–2026)
In August 2023, Woodland announced that he had been diagnosed with a brain tumor. He had experienced symptoms since April 2023, and an MRI in May confirmed the diagnosis. He underwent brain surgery on September 18, 2023, and returned to play on the PGA Tour four months later. In February 2025, he was awarded the PGA Tour Courage Award in recognition of his recovery. He finished runner-up at the Houston Open in March 2025, his first top-five finish since the 2023 surgery.
In March 2026, Woodland won the Houston Open by five strokes over Nicolai Højgaard with a tournament-record 21-under 259, his first professional victory since the 2019 U.S. Open. The win secured him a place in the Masters Tournament field and marked his fifth PGA Tour title.
Driving Style and Strengths
Woodland has long been recognized as one of the longest hitters on the PGA Tour, using his basketball-honed athleticism to generate clubhead speed. His game is built around aggressive driving and confident iron play, and he has shown a willingness to take on risk-reward lines on longer par fives. His post-surgery return highlighted a steadier, more strategic approach, with a focus on course management and emotional control.
Notable Events and Milestones
Beyond his 2019 U.S. Open win, Woodland is remembered for inviting Amy Bockerstette, a collegiate golfer with Down syndrome, to play the par-3 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale during a 2019 practice round. Her par and the viral PGA Tour video became a defining off-course moment of his career, and he continued to credit her positive energy in post-victory interviews.
Gary Woodland Career Wins
Woodland has recorded seven professional wins across multiple tours. His PGA Tour victories include the 2011 Transitions Championship, the 2018 Waste Management Phoenix Open, the 2019 U.S. Open, and the 2026 Houston Open, along with one additional PGA Tour title. He has also won on the European Tour and on smaller developmental circuits.
PGA Tour Highlights
Woodland’s first PGA Tour title came at the 2011 Transitions Championship, a clutch par save on the final hole giving him a one-shot win. His most recent victory came in dominant fashion at the 2026 Houston Open, where his tournament-record 21-under total ended a multi-year winless stretch. The 2019 U.S. Open remains the crown jewel of his résumé, and his Presidents Cup appearance in 2019 added a notable team competition achievement.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the PGA Tour, Woodland won on the Nationwide Tour development circuit and added an additional win on a smaller professional tour. He also captured the Omega Mission Hills World Cup with Matt Kuchar in 2011, reinforcing his strength in team-format competition.
Gary Woodland Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Gary Lynn Woodland was raised in Topeka, Kansas, by his parents Dan and Linda Woodland. His background in Topeka and the surrounding Shawnee County area shaped his early years and helped launch his athletic path.
Personal Life
Woodland married Gabby Granado in 2016. The couple’s first child, a son named Jaxson, was born in 2017, originally a twin whose sibling was lost in utero. In 2019, the family welcomed identical twin daughters, and the couple has continued to raise their children while Woodland competes on tour. The family has been a central support system throughout his career and recovery from brain surgery.
2025 Season Performance
Woodland’s 2025 campaign was defined primarily by recognition and steady comebacks rather than victories. In February 2025, he received the PGA Tour Courage Award for his recovery from brain surgery, a meaningful milestone that reflected both his personal resilience and the support of the golf community.
On course, he showed signs of returning form with a runner-up finish at the Houston Open in March 2025, one stroke behind Min Woo Lee. It was his first top-five result since his 2023 surgery, signaling progress in his game and renewed confidence in his health.
Looking ahead, Woodland aimed to build on that momentum entering 2026, with continued attention to managing the residual effects of his brain tumor and PTSD. His combination of length, experience, and competitive grit positioned him as a player to watch in the early season events, including a return to major-championship qualifying opportunities.
